AustLit

'A literary genre is emerging in which Aborigines are cast as the spiritual saviours of the supposedly alienated Western self. One of the most prolific authors writing in this field is the Australian, James Cowan. Through a series of books Cowan moves further and further into the Aboriginal metaphysical realm until at last, he would have his readers believe, he actually enters the Dreaming and becomes an intrinsic part of it. In this article I critically examine these books, focusing on Cowan's construction of Aborigines and the sorts of claims he makes. I also consider some possible consequences of his particular portrayal of Aborigines. Despite his prominence in this field, and publishers' claims that he is 'an internationally respected authority on Australian Aborigines and other indigenous peoples', his work so far has received little critical analysis.' (Publication Abstract)

'This article covers aspects of Bennelong's and Yemmerrawannie's sojourn in England between 1793 and 1795 not previously published and provides a different explanation concerning the illness that eventually led to the death of Yemmerrawannie. I also argue that both men were not paraded as curiosities but, rather, treated with respect.'  (Publication Abstract)

'This new series continues the high production standard established by previous volumes of the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. The six papers document recent archaeological and cultural heritage studies in Queensland, and most papers exemplify recent approaches to cultural heritage documentation and management or recent methodologies for the interpretation of cultural landscapes.'  (Publication summary)